Chapter 21 #3
I parked in a designated spot down the street, so the press couldn’t come at me outside the rink. As I waited in the afternoon heat for a car to pick me up, I glanced at my phone. I still hadn’t seen the photos online. There’d been so much to do.
I opened my phone, tapped into The Sports Network’s website, and there I was, grabbing Ronan’s face and kissing him right at his door.
I scrolled through several photos. Fucking Jeff had to have been running back and forth across the driveway.
He’d gotten shots from several angles. My heart jolted.
Was there an accomplice with him? Hadn’t he said he was staying with a friend out here?
Shaking my head, I mumbled, “Who the fuck knows.” I didn’t care anymore.
I was out, and I had Ronan, his band, and my organization behind me. Dad would come around eventually.
A black SUV stopped at the curb, and I hopped into the back seat.
“Ready?” Coach Dupont smiled at me from the driver’s seat.
“Hey, Coach.” Damn, he’d picked me up himself? “Ready as ever.” I buckled my seatbelt.
“I’m taking you to an entrance we have blocked off, so you won’t see the reporters until you’re in the press room.” He drove to a back way into the arena. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m surprisingly okay. I think having everyone’s support has been the difference.” My gaze caught on the news vans in the parking lot, and my pulse notched up. It would be fine. I’d rehearsed what I wanted to say with Ronan. My boyfriend was a pro with shit like this.
“I want to see you shine in these games, Crosby.” Coach drove through a gated area manned by a few security guards.
“We all do. I think you’ve got a bright future with the team.
” He stopped the car, cut the engine, and then twisted to face me.
“Use today to knock this crap out of your head, so tomorrow you can hit the ice as the focused, hard-hitting NHL D-man I need out there.”
“You bet, Coach.” As my chest swelled, I climbed out of the SUV.
Following swift talks with the team’s public relations team, I strode into the press room, climbed the stairs to a raised platform and took a chair behind a long table and one of two mics.
With my pulse pounding through my temples, my gaze trailed across the reporters in the room and along the back row—Lucas, Mason, Jett, Ace, and Archer sat.
Mason winked at me and mouthed, you’ve got this.
As Coach Dupont dropped into the seat next to me, he gave me a knowing look. “I’ll let Evan offer a statement first, and then we’ll open the room up for questions.”
Clearing my throat, I clasped my hands on the table.
“First, yes, I’m in a relationship with Ronan Vale of Vanta Crown.
He’s, uh, he’s my boyfriend. It’s still new, but we love each other, and that’s what’s important.
” I glanced at Lucas, who smiled back at me.
“In fact, that’s all that should matter.
People fall in love all the time. I just fell for a famous rock star.
” I wouldn’t bring up the sexuality part of this.
A male reporter raised his hand. “So, Evan, would you describe yourself as gay or bisexual? Have you been with other men?”
Did he really have to go there? With a hard swallow, I said, “I’m bisexual. Who I’ve slept with in the past is not on the table for discussion.”
A female reporter spoke out. “So, what’s he like, Ronan Vale? Is he as much of a bad boy at home as he is on the stage?” She chuckled.
“You know what? He’s actually not. He’s very domestic at home and likes to cook. He’s…” Fuck, should I be saying this publicly? But I wanted the world to understand what a wonderful man he was. “He’s very caring, sensitive, messy, and beautifully chaotic, and the perfect person for me.”
“Will you appear together on the town now that you’re out publicly?” Another male reporter asked.
I shrugged. “Probably. But I’ve got a few playoff games and the Stanley Cup to win first.”
Everyone in the room laughed.
“Evan, you’re a permanent part of the Coyotes team now. How do you see next year going for you?” A new reporter asked. “I mean, with all the traveling you and Ronan do once he goes back on tour.”
“I hope we win as many games as possible, and the traveling part, well, like any couple, we’ll work that out.” I knew we’d spend as much time together as possible. As a grin pulled at my lips, I said, “I might attend a few concerts. We’ll see.”
Coach Dupont leaned into his microphone. “We’ve invited Ronan and his band to the home games, and they’ve accepted.”
Excited murmuring filled the room.
“Okay, are there any hockey-related questions?” Coach Dupont patted my forearm, resting on the table. Covering the microphone, he said, “You did well.”
“Thanks, Coach.” My tense muscles relaxed. It hadn’t been so bad.
The conversation turned to upcoming games, and Coach fielded most of those questions.
After the press conference, I strolled through the hallway and into our locker room to decompress.
My portion proved shorter than expected, but there had been nothing left to say.
Ronan had been correct. When you just owned it and pretended like it was no big deal, it removed the scandal from the story.
Lucas strolled into the room, accompanied by the others. Holding up his hand, he said, “Evan, you did a fantastic job out there.”
Giving him a high five, I said, “Thanks. I had a lot of help from Ronan. He knew how to handle this.” In fact, I wanted to go home to him and check if there had been any recent developments on his side.
“That was way fucking easier compared to when Jett and I came out.” Mason snickered as he approached me. “Now, when are we meeting Ronan?” He arched a brow.
“How about after the playoffs?” I needed to get through the next few weeks focusing on hockey. I leaned against the wall.
“After we win the Cup, we’ll host a party at my place.” Archer gave me a wide grin.
“Works for me.” Ace patted Archer’s shoulder. “Then we can mess up your place.”
I breathed in deeply. Hell, they all had beautiful homes now. Fuck, was it time to buy the SUV I’d had my eyes on? Why not? After this, I deserved it. “Guys, I need to head out. I’ll see you tomorrow.”